The forest was getting more and denser, the rain heavier, but they kept on moving. Not knowing their final destination then moving away from Oz.
They were however lost. Elphaba's stomach was churning. She hadn't eaten in days and it was beginning to take its tole.
Behind her ran Fiyero. His straw legs where wobbly and cumbersome, occasionally tripping on the forest floor.
" Do you have any idea where we are ?"
He shouted to a flagging Elphaba, whose pace was beginning to slow. She stopped. Turning to him, the rain dripping down her face and soaking her raven hair.
" We've been travelling in a straight line so technically yes! Pretty soon we should be near the desert ".
Fiyero looked up at the rain, then at the forest that was surrounding them.
"Doesn't look to be that way".
He shouted trying to get his voice to travel through the wall of water, pointing to the grass and greenery around them.
She sighed her shoulders slumping down.
" Fine, we're lost! You happy now?" She glared at him. She hated admitting defeat.
As their eyes met the rain began to slow. Fiyero walked towards her his arms reaching for an embrace. She hadn't been herself the past couple of weeks. He had always known her to be quick to snap back, always blaming herself for everything that went wrong. She'd shout, yes, but now she seemed tone stuck in a never-ending cycle of gloom. It had been nearly a month since she had faked her death and had to leave Glinda behind. She missed her deeply. Whenever she'd talk about her she'd cry. Knowing she had to lie to her and leave her out of the loop, not only for the protection of Elphaba but for herself. It felt like an open wound which would not heal. No matter what he did.
Glinda also didn't know he was alive. She thought he had perished in those fields of corn left to bleed to death leaving Glinda alone for always.
"It will get dark soon. Let's make camp. You need to rest. You must be exhausted ".
He held her close to his chest running his chubby straw filled hand through her hair.
Oh to be able to feel the warmth of her face on his body and smell the sweetness of her hair again. She didn't answer, only nodded yes, too tired to argue or keep walking anymore.
" And in the morning ill find out where we are and try and get some food. Probably best to be able to leave Oz rather than running round in circles ".
She sighed, resting her head closer to him. His chest rustled the straw smelt damp. Food yes food would help this horrible feeling she had sitting in her gut. She needed to stop and start letting Fiyero look after her before there was none of her left.
xxxxx
Glinda sat at her desk observing the extravagant room around her. The palace definitely didn't do things on a budget. The dark green floor looked cold and uninviting. The emerald curtains hung from the overly large windows. It was chilly.
The celebrations were still going on outside, Glinda was well aware of the stark difference from what it felt like in that room. Everywhere was green. Just a reminder of Elphie, screaming, twisting in pain as she melted away. Every day Glinda heard and repeated the image in her head. She was alone, stuck in the green hell hole of a palace.
The celebrations had been going on for a little over a month. People were drinking in their merriment to the joyous news of the deaths of both the witch of the east and the apparently wicked witch. It was starting to calm down now that it had been announced about the wizard's departure.
Glinda had become the image of happiness and goodness. Everyone saw her as a beacon of hope for the future of Oz. But it was all fake. Every time she was out in public or not in her room she would plaster a fake smile on. But inside she was the complete opposite.
Glinda's eyes drifted back down to the piles of paperwork on her desk. She hadn't a clue about any of it. She would sign here and tick there but in all honesty, she didn't know what most of the paperwork was. She'd had no training for most of this in shiz. She wasn't supposed to be in charge of the whole of Oz, it just happened by mistake after she'd dismissed the wizard and locked morrible in the dungeon.
Elphie would know what to do, she thought to cast her head up to the ceiling in the hope that she would help from some distant place Ozen's went to after death.
xxxxx
Elphaba sat hunched over the glowing orb, a fuzzy image of Glinda upon it. She watched her weeping at her desk, her heart pain along with her.
She did this often. Checking up on her friend in the hopes that it would help her cope better. It never did, it always made her feel worse, but she couldn't stop watching.
" I thought I'd told you to stop using that thing. It only makes you feel worse "
Fiyero had been to find the nearest village and had been gone for quite some time. She knew he hated her using the orb. Picking it up and placing it carefully in her satchel she held out her hands as he sat down clumsily next to her, handing her a clothed bag of food.
He smiled, well as best as he could smile with his scarecrow completion.
" The village of Red Sand is about a mile that way. Think we must be in the Gillikin forest. "
Elphaba listened as she reached into the bag and began looking at the food. Green apple purple grapes, cheese. Not very nice smelling cheese. The wiff of it made her stomach churn.
" So I think we need to be heading west towards the Petha hills". Quickly she stood up running to lean on the nearest tree and throw what little she had in her stomach up.
Fiyero looked over concerned.
" Are you ok? Is it the food?"
" No, no I'm fine honestly. "
She turned back smiling weakly then returned back to her seat as if nothing had happened, pulling out an apple and began chomping on it.
" So we've been heading in completely the wrong direction. Well at least now we know oz forbid we would run into anyone, what with everyone thinking him dead. It would be a little hard to explain my being there "
She pointed out, speaking through mouthfuls of apple.
" Are you sure you're ok Elphie? We could just stay here, the forest is thick, their food-"
" No we both agreed we need to be out of Oz!"
" Elphie-"
" No Fiyero we are not having this argument again! One minute you're saying we can't stay, then you're contradicting yourself. I want to tell Glinda we are ok, but you say that's not safe either! We've been travelling for 20 days in the wrong direction and-"
" Will you just let me talk"
She stopped her head sinking down to the floor a slight grin edging its way into the corners of her mouth.
"Sorry, I was doing it again wasn't I?"
She looked up grinning playfully at him. If Fiyero had a heart it would have skipped a beat with that look.
"It's ok"
He staggered over, taking the hand which was about to be raised to her mouth taking another bite of the juicy apple.
"Its kinda like having the old Elphaba back".
He ran his gloved thumb along the inside of her wrist. Even that slight touch sent shivers up her spine
"It's kinda cute"
She sniggered slightly.
" Cute? Did you really just call the wicked witch of the west cute?"
" That I did"
His other arm was placed onto her hip pulling her closer. The apple dropped from her grasp, desperate for more but knowing it not to be possible.
" What I'd give to kiss those".
His thumb slowly making its way up her arm and along her green lips.
" I know...I know".
Their foreheads meet, their eyes close together. At that moment nothing else mattered but them.